Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

7 reviews

beks_gail's review

fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

The book had some really good metaphors for getting through tough times in life. 

But for a YA book had too much smut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Eating disorder, Addiction, Death, Self harm, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Suicide

Moderate: Grief, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Vomit

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Honest and emotional and full of love. This book about siblings, and friends, and first loves encapsulates a true coming-of-age novel. It’s well-written — sometimes funny, sometimes gritty, sometimes tender. You can’t help but love the characters and their quest for finding a sunken ship that built an entire town. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Alcohol, Addiction, Bullying, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Eating disorder, and Toxic relationship

ashliebysmashliereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 TW - teen sex, disordered eating, self harm, suicidal ideation. 

This book was interesting. I found the main character pretty insufferable, but also the portrayal of anxiety attacks incredibly realistic. It was interesting to be inside the brain of an asshole teen girl who is the "okay" sibling in a set of kids when compared to a brother with depression, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation. 

Every time I started to really enjoy it, Violet would do something or say something obnoxious again. Idk. It was worth it. I won't reread

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, and Grief

Minor: Alcohol

sailinginthetea's review

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, and Medical content

brookey8888's review

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I just don’t think this book was for me. I can see why a lot of people like this and I did like the topics discussed, but that being said I didn’t love it. I thought the characters were honestly annoying and the  “quirky” style of character was too much for me. As for the romance I thought it was cute, but I honestly didn’t like how they tried their friend(also violet totally had feeling for him, but that just disappeared). I also wish that we got to see more of Sam and violet and their relationship develop and grow. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Outing, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Suicide attempt

nmcannon's review

Last True Poets of the Sea was a sapphic book club pick for June.

I wasn't in the right place to read this book. Both in terms what happening in my life this year and in terms of my expectations going in. Going by the blurb, I was expecting a Twelfth Night retelling with some light personal reflections and, overall, a romantic beach read. Nope. Last True Poets of the Sea is nowhere near a heartwarming comedy! More to my own fault, I thought this was an Adult book, and teenagers going through these heavy, intense mental health troubles squicked me out at times. Heed the content warnings! They're not kidding with this one!

To the book's credit, it's indeed beautifully written. On a sentence level, the novel is ornate without being overwrought, and the teenage voice is believable. Friends noted that their teenage selves would have appreciated this book so much. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief

Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Car accident, Biphobia, Medical content, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt

for_esme_with_love's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My teenage self feels incredibly seen by the protagonist, Violet, who is one of the most richly crafted characters I have read in YA fiction! A former child actor who is reeling from a traumatic family event, Violet is used to coping with her anxiety through alcohol and sex. But this summer she is rocking a freshly shaved head and is determined to turn over a new leaf, throwing herself instead into investigating a shipwreck that may hold a secret about her family's past. The real intrigue of this book is the depth of the supporting characters, all deeply lovable as well as flawed, who embrace Violet with open arms to help her solve the mystery. The love interest is beautifully rendered as a full, imperfect human, and even though the romance is a more minor plot it is no less satisfying. Also bonus points for depicting a character responding very reasonably to romantic rejection, which is rare to see, and queer story without a focus on coming out! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Blood, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying and Child death

A suicide attempt of a family member is a primary aspect of the plot (not depicted). One of the characters lost a sibling when they were younger and discusses this loss. There is also a scene where the main character goes out with an older man who may not realize she is underage. She is ok, but the scene is uncomfortable.